Just Like Fire (Ace x Reader)

Chapter 22: 3 to 1

When you and Ace arrived at the All Blue it was still busy. You were there about ten minutes before closing and while no new customers were coming in, at least half the tables were still occupied. A severe-looking man with cropped green hair had been standing guard at the front doors, but he'd let you and Ace through.

"Zoro turns away customers for Sanji when the place gets busy to this point. Business is good, but getting your staff home at a decent hour is more important, at least to Lyn and Sanji." Ace says as the two of you work your way through the restaurant to the bar.

The bartender that Ace had pointed out the last time gives you both a smile. "Ace, are you here to help close?" She asks and he nods.

"Sabo's sister needed to talk to Sanji about something, so we volunteered to help free up some time for him, what can we do to help?"

"Ah, if you can get the tables and booths cleaned up that are empty, that'd help. Zoro can't help until we can lock up, and we're going to be a bit with the last few tables tonight." She says, and looks toward you. "I'm Lyn." She reaches out a hand, shaking yours.

"(Y/N)," you say. "Sabo's mysterious sister."

"Ever worked in a restaurant?" Lyn prompts, and you can tell from her grin she's expecting you to say no before you even say it.

"Ah, no."

Her grin breaks into a full smile. "It's okay, there's plenty of easy stuff to do. Our dishwasher could probably use an extra set of hands, how're your shoes?"

"My shoes?" You question looking down. "I've got the sneakers I wore camping earlier on."

"That's good, better'n being in heels. I'll introduce you, don't worry, Duval's bad at winking, but if you can help him stack trays he can get the dishes washed faster." Lyn nods for you to follow her, lifting a section of the bar and having you come back.

The kitchen is brighter than the front of the house, and there's almost eight other people back there. One of them is a tall man who would probably tower over Ace, with blond hair and a smile that seems a bit strained. Lyn introduced the two of you and had Duval show you how to stack trays so you could help him out.

It wasn't difficult work, but it was more physical than you were used to. Grateful for your nap earlier and the fact that you weren't fighting against your mother's "medicine" anymore, you managed to be more of a help than hindrance; Duval only had to fix a couple of your trays.

Once the last of the customers are gone and the place is nearly closed up and cleaned, you, Ace, Lyn, and Sanji are sitting in a back booth while the last couple of employees finish up and leave.

"Luffy said something about you needing to ask about my brothers," Sanji says, an apologetic look on his face. "He's never been one for details, so I don't know why you wanted to talk about them, but if there's anything I can do to help you, it would be my pleasure."

You smile, and then bite your lip a little. You make a few more gestures before Ace takes your hand in his and gives you a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm... technically, betrothed to Ichiji." You finally manage to say and watch as both Lyn and Sanji's eyes go wide and their jaws go slack. "Aside from the obvious fact that I don't want to marry him, I've also recently learned that I am, in fact, cursed."

Lyn's mouth closes, but Sanji's goes almost wider, he murmurs a swear under his breath in a foreign language and you nearly snort.

"My parents don't know yet, and I don't know what curse I have either," you continue. "At least not yet, but my parents are my problem, and the details of my curse aren't something I can control. What I need to know, what I was hoping you could tell me, was that if I tell Ichiji I'm cursed, what's he possibly going to do?"